Method and element to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, or to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture

ABSTRACT

A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, or to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture. According to the invention the distance is measured between the occlusal surface of the wax rim or the bite plate on the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture, on the one side, and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate or of the lower denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, on the other side, whereafter a plate-shaped registering element with a height substantially equal to said distance is positioned vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge and the extension rate of the tongue is measured and compared with its extension rate after the bite plate or the lower denture has been positioned in situ. This plate-shaped registering element comprises a flat lower supporting face and an upper face in parallel therewith, said element being bent about an axis which extends perpendicularly to said faces in the median plane of the registering element.

Unite States Patent Schreinemakers [451 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] METHOD AND ELEMENT TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT DEPTH OF THE LINGUAL RIM OF A BITE PLATE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DENTURE FOR A TOOTHLESS MANDIBLE, OR TO CHECK THE CORRECTNESS OF THE DEPTH OF THE LINGUAL RIM OF A LOWER DENTURE [72] Inventor: Josephus Schreinemakers, Wilhelminastraat 43, Sittard, Netherlands [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1970 [2]] App]. N0.: 7,103

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 2, 1969 Netherlands ..690l664 [52] US. Cl ..32/19 [51] Int. Cl ..A61c 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..32/l8, 19, 20, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,973 6/1926 Landa ..32/l9 X 2,587,528 2/1952 Robinson ..32/l9 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, or to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture. According to the invention the distance is measured between the occlusal surface of the wax rim or the bite plate on the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture, on the one side, and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate or of the lower denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, on the other side, whereafter a plate-shaped registering element with a height substantially equal to said distance is positioned vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge and the extension rate of the tongue is measured and compared with its extension rate after the bite plate or the lower denture has been positioned in situ. This plate-shaped registering element comprises a flat lower supporting face and an upper face in parallel therewith, said element being bent about an axis which extends perpendicularly to said faces in the median plane of the registering element.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures METHOD AND ELEMENT TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT DEPTH OF THE LINGUAL RIM OF A BITE PLATE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DENTURE FOR A TOOTHLESS MANDIBLE, OR TO CHECK THE CORRECTNESS OF THE DEPTH OF THE LINGUAL RIM OF A LOWER DENTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, or to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture: as well as to a plate-shaped registering element adapted to be used in this method.

During the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible the determination of the correct depth of its lingual rim in the anterior part of the floor of the mouth is a very difficult problem at present. In general, in the bite plate which is used as an intermediate step in the construction of a lower denture this depth is only roughly estimated by means of the preliminary impression. Therefore, in the final lower denture it is often still necessary to correct the lingual rim.

When the depth of the lingual rim of the lower denture is insufficient, no suction effect of the lower denture is obtained, as the lingual rim is not in contact with the corresponding part of the mucous membrane in the floor of the mouth in the area concerned. In that case the lacking suction effect may, however, be restored rather easily.

When, however, the depth of the lingual rim of the lower denture is excessive, the functional spectrum or operating area of the muscles of the tongue and of the floor of the mouth, that is to say the contraction range of the tongue between zero (wherein the tongue extends somewhat below its rest position) and maximum (wherein the tongue is, e.g., extended at its maximum), will be reduced.

However, until now this could neither be checked with the bite plate nor with the lower denture itself. Further, it is not possible to check this by an extension of the tongue of the patient after the bite plate or the lower denture has been removed because in that case the tongue does not transgress the ridge of the mandible at the same level as it does in the case that the bite plate provided with a wax rim, or the lower denture provided with teeth, is positioned in the mouth of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy method for checking whether the depth of the lingual rim has been determined correctly and in particular whether this depth is not excessive.

For this purpose the method according to the invention is characterized in that the distance is measured between the occlusal surface of the wax rim on the bite plate or the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture, on the one side, and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate or of the lower denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, on the other side, whereafter a plate-shaped registering element with a height substantially equal to said distance is positioned vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge and the extension rate of the tongue is measured and compared with its extension rate after the bite plate or the lower denture has been positioned in situ.

Therefore, according to the invention a comparative test measurement is made, wherein the tongue, during its extension, is forced to transgress the anterior part of the lower jaw ridge at a level which corresponds with the level of the occlusal surface of the wax rim on the bite plate or with the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture in order to obtain an exact registration of the maximum extension rate of the tongue of the patient, while preventing any interference by the lingual rim.

If during the application of the registering element the extension rate of the tongue is equal to this rate registered after the bite plate or the lower denture is positioned in situ in the mouth of the patient, it is certain that the lingual rim has no excessive depth and that the functional spectrum of the muscles of the tongue and of the floor of the mouth has not been decreased. If, further, a sufficient suction effect has been obtained, it is certain that the lingual rim of the bite plate or the lingual rim of the lower denture has the correct depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawings which show an embodiment of the registering instrument according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the registeringinstrument according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the registering instrument according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1 at a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The registering instrument according to the invention as shown in the drawings serves for determining the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, or for checking the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture.

This registering instrument comprises a plate-shaped registering element 1 with a flat lower supporting face 2 and with an upper face 3 which runs parallel to this lower supporting face 2.

The registering element 1 is bent about an axis which is perpendicular to the lower supporting face 2 and the upper face 3 in the median plane of the registering element 1. The radius of the registering element 1 approximately corresponds with the radius of the anterior part of the lower jaw ridge of the patient. The width of the registering element 1 decreases in the downward direction.

The registering element 1 is provided with two detachable handles 4. In order to obtain this detachable connection the registering element 1 comprises on both sides an upwardly directed projection 5 which is square in cross-section and which is inserted in a hole 6 in an end portion 7 of the handle 4 concerned. Each end portion 7 is connected to the grip 9 proper via a hookshaped outwardly and downwardly extending intermediate portion 8. The inner edge of the grip 9 has to run approximately parallel to the check of the patient at an interspace of 1-2 cm.

Each projection comprises a recess 10, which engages a ball 11, which is received in a hole 12 in the cooperating end portion 7 of the handle 4 and is springbiased by a spring 13. In this manner each handle 4 is attached on the projection 5 concerned.

When a check has to be made a registering element 1 is chosen from a set of registering elements, namely the registering element 1, wherein the distance between the lower supporting face 2 and the upper face 3 is approximately 1 mm shorter than the distance between the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate or the denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the lower jaw ridge, on the one side, and the occlusal surface of the wax rim on the bite plate or the level of the incisal edges of the anterior teeth on the lower denture, on the other side. This latter distance is measured by means of an especially adapted sliding gauge.

Thereafter a layer 14 of sponge rubber or the like soft material is glued on the lower supporting face 2. The height of this layer 14 amounts to approximately 1 mm in the compressed working position so that the total height of the registering element 1 together with its layer 14 substantially equals the above mentioned distance measured on the bite plate or on the lower denture.

Hereupon the registering element 1 is positioned in the mouth of the patient so that the layer 14 rests on the lower jaw ridge. As the registering element 1 is pressed with a force of approximately 1-1 h kg/cm2 on the remaining jaw ridge, which in general has a rather irregular shape, the layer 14 will eliminate the influence of these irregularities, while on the other hand any damage of the mucosa on the ridge is effectively prevented.

The registering element 1 is kept in a vertical position by means of the handles 4 which extend outside the mouth. The position of the registering element 1 is such, that the inner or tongue-side surface of this re gistering element 1 extends approximately vertically above the base of insertion of the musculus genio glossus.

Hereafter the tongue of the patient is extended as far as possible and the extension rate of the tongue is measured.

Thereupon the bite plate or the lower denture is put in situ, whereafter the patient again extends the tongue as far as possible. If the extension rate measured in this latter case corresponds with the extension rate measured during the presence of the registering element 1 in the mouth, it is certain that the lingual rim of the bite plate or of the lower denture does not interfere with the functional spectrum of the muscles of the tongue and of the floor of the mouth. When further a sufficient suction effect has been ascertained, the certainty has been obtained that the lingual rim of the bite plate or of the lower denture has the correct depth in the anterior part of the floor of the mouth.

It has been found that for the above described checking measurements it suffices to provide a set of ten registering elements 1, wherein the distance between the lower supporting face 2 and the upper face 3 gradually increases from a minimum of approximately 5 mm to a maximum of approximately mm.

Because the handles 4 are mounted in a detachable manner it is sufficient to provide only one set of handles 4 for each set of registering elements 1.

The registering elements 1 and the handles 4 together form a set of instruments which can be indicated as a linguo-spectograph. The registering elements 1 and the handles 4 are shaped in such a way that they do not deform the lower lip of the patient when the registering element 1 is positioned in the mouth.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawings, which may be varied in several ways within the scope of the appendant claims.

I claim:

1. In a registering instrument, an element for determining the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture, or to check the correct depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, by insertion in the mouth of a patient and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of the tongue after the bite plate or lower denture has been positioned in situ; said element comprising; an elongate curved rigid plate member having flat parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate member being arcuately curved about an axis which extends perpendicularly to said surfaces in the median plane thereof so as to define a radius of curvature generally conforming to the jaw ridge of the patient, and the lower surface of said plate member being adapted to be supported on the highest edge of the anterior part of the jaw ridge, said plate member having a width decreasing downwardly toward the lower surface thereof, said plate member having a height substantially equal to the vertical distance between the occlusal surface of the lingual rim of the bite plate or the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture on the one hand, and the highest point of the base of the bite plate or of the lower denture which is adapted to cover in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of a mandible, said plate member having upwardly extending projecting portions at each end thereof; and handle means for manipulating said element adapted to be releasably engaged by each of said projecting portions.

2. An element as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resilient layer adhesively fastened to the lower surface of said plate member, the bottom surface of said resilient layer forming the element surface being supported on said jaw ridge.

3. An element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resilient layer is constituted essentially of sponge rubber.

4. An element as claimed in claim 1, each of said handle means having an aperture adjacent one end thereof for receiving said upwardly projecting portion, and including a hand grip portion connected to said end portion by a hook-shaped outwardly and downwardly extending intermediate portion.

5. An element as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said plate members adapted to be interchangeably positioned in the mouth of a patient, the vertical height between the upper and lower surfaces of said plate members being gradually increased of from approximately 5 mm to approximately 15 mm.

6. A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, comprising measuring the distance between the occlusal surface of a wax rim on the lingual rim of the bite plate and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the bite plate has been positioned in situ.

7. A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, comprising measuring the distance between the occlusal surface of a wax rim on the lingual rim of the bite plate and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge in such manner that its tongue-side surface extends approximately vertically above the base of the insertion of the musculus genio glossus, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the bite plate has been positioned in situ.

8. A method to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, comprising measuring the distance between the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture and the highest point of the inner surface of the lower denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the lower denture has been positioned in situ.

9, A method to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, comprising measuring the distance between the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture and the highest point of the inner surface of the lower denture which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge in such a manner that its tongue-side surface extends approximately vertically above the base of the insertion of the musculus genio glossus, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the lower denture has been positioned in situ.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI lEt v CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,693,257 P Dated. -September 26, 1972 In\'entor(s).TOSephuS Schreinemakers It is certified that error appears in the aboveider 1ti'f ied patent and that said Letters Patent are. hereby corrected as shown below;

On the cover, sheet [30] "Feb. 2, 1969" should read Feb. 3 1969 Signed and sealed this 1st day May 1973 v (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.-FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GO'T'ISCHALK Attesting Officer I Commissionerof Patents:

PC4050 H069) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w U.St GOVERNMENT PRNTING OFFICE 2 I959 366-334' 

1. In a registering instrument, an element for determining the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture, or to check the correct depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, by insertion in the mOuth of a patient and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of the tongue after the bite plate or lower denture has been positioned in situ; said element comprising; an elongate curved rigid plate member having flat parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate member being arcuately curved about an axis which extends perpendicularly to said surfaces in the median plane thereof so as to define a radius of curvature generally conforming to the jaw ridge of the patient, and the lower surface of said plate member being adapted to be supported on the highest edge of the anterior part of the jaw ridge, said plate member having a width decreasing downwardly toward the lower surface thereof, said plate member having a height substantially equal to the vertical distance between the occlusal surface of the lingual rim of the bite plate or the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture on the one hand, and the highest point of the base of the bite plate or of the lower denture which is adapted to cover in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of a mandible, said plate member having upwardly extending projecting portions at each end thereof; and handle means for manipulating said element adapted to be releasably engaged by each of said projecting portions.
 2. An element as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resilient layer adhesively fastened to the lower surface of said plate member, the bottom surface of said resilient layer forming the element surface being supported on said jaw ridge.
 3. An element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resilient layer is constituted essentially of sponge rubber.
 4. An element as claimed in claim 1, each of said handle means having an aperture adjacent one end thereof for receiving said upwardly projecting portion, and including a hand grip portion connected to said end portion by a hook-shaped outwardly and downwardly extending intermediate portion.
 5. An element as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said plate members adapted to be interchangeably positioned in the mouth of a patient, the vertical height between the upper and lower surfaces of said plate members being gradually increased of from approximately 5 mm to approximately 15 mm.
 6. A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, comprising measuring the distance between the occlusal surface of a wax rim on the lingual rim of the bite plate and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the bite plate has been positioned in situ.
 7. A method to determine the correct depth of the lingual rim of a bite plate during the construction of a denture for a toothless mandible, comprising measuring the distance between the occlusal surface of a wax rim on the lingual rim of the bite plate and the highest point of the inner surface of the bite plate, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge in such manner that its tongue-side surface extends approximately vertically above the base of the insertion of the musculus genio glossus, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the bite plate has been positioned in situ.
 8. A method to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, comprising measuring the distance between the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture and the highest point of the innEr surface of the lower denture, which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the lower denture has been positioned in situ.
 9. A method to check the correctness of the depth of the lingual rim of a lower denture, comprising measuring the distance between the level of the incisal edges of the teeth of the lower denture and the highest point of the inner surface of the lower denture which covers in situ the anterior part of the jaw ridge of the mandible, positioning a plate-shaped registering element having a height substantially equal to said distance vertically on the anterior part of said jaw ridge in such a manner that its tongue-side surface extends approximately vertically above the base of the insertion of the musculus genio glossus, and measuring and comparing the extension rate of the tongue with the extension rate of said element after the lower denture has been positioned in situ. 